Craft store wood for enclosures?

Starblood

Arachnopeon
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I was out at the craft store tonight looking for some supplies for things unrelated to T's, and found a section where they had driftwood and cholla wood. It was super cheap so I grabbed it. It doesn't have any sort of a chemical smell to it and isn't stained or coated as far as I can tell. It just looks like it's been cut down and sanded/sandblasted. Would something like that be safe to use in a tarantula enclosure? Should I boil or heat sterilize?
 

fcat

Arachnodemon
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It may be fine, but it probably isn't worth it. You would be better off buying it from a fish store.

Not all wood is safe, and coniferous wood is toxic, but usually after it becomes driftwood, the dangerous oils are gone too. You just don't know if that is real driftwood (unlikely) or treated to look like driftwood.

Most wood items marketed for rodents is pine btw. It's cheap and easy wood to come by.
 

Introvertebrate

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I was out at the craft store tonight looking for some supplies for things unrelated to T's, and found a section where they had driftwood and cholla wood. It was super cheap so I grabbed it. It doesn't have any sort of a chemical smell to it and isn't stained or coated as far as I can tell. It just looks like it's been cut down and sanded/sandblasted. Would something like that be safe to use in a tarantula enclosure? Should I boil or heat sterilize?
Was that a Michael's? I'd like to find something like that.
 

Starblood

Arachnopeon
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It may be fine, but it probably isn't worth it. You would be better off buying it from a fish store.

Not all wood is safe, and coniferous wood is toxic, but usually after it becomes driftwood, the dangerous oils are gone too. You just don't know if that is real driftwood (unlikely) or treated to look like driftwood.

Most wood items marketed for rodents is pine btw. It's cheap and easy wood to come by.
You're right in that it's definitely not real 'driftwood', it doesn't have that silvery color to it. It very much looks like azalea root (spider wood) though - I'll attach a picture of the piece I'd like to use.

My concern is more that it may have been treated with some kind of chemical that I just don't know about. I'll probably do some experiments with the boring pieces I don't want to use in any enclosures. You're also right that it probably isn't worth the risk, still would be interesting to know.

Was that a Michael's? I'd like to find something like that.
It was Hobby Lobby, over by the seashells and beach sand.
 

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fcat

Arachnodemon
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I would guess if it wasn't supplied by a local artisan then it would definitely be treated prior to shipping after "manufacturing." Too easy for an invasive hitchhiker to get a first class ticket. Even clothes get treated, I am not trying to pick on your haul. I would be happy to send you free wild collected cholla, but I would try to talk you out of that for different reasons, like the possibility of your T getting stuck :)
 

Starblood

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I would guess if it wasn't supplied by a local artisan then it would definitely be treated prior to shipping after "manufacturing." Too easy for an invasive hitchhiker to get a first class ticket.
I've been having trouble finding a piece small enough to work, I already ordered a 'nano' sized one from an aquarist shop on Etsy and it was still too big. The perils of not being able to pick it out in person. That one piece I added the picture of is just the right size and shape for what I wanted, it wasn't until after I got it home that I had the presence of mind to wonder if there was a chemical treatment done to it.

Even clothes get treated, I am not trying to pick on your haul.
No worries, I didn't take it any type of way.

I would be happy to send you free wild collected cholla, but I would try to talk you out of that for different reasons, like the possibility of your T getting stuck :)
Okay now that was a surprise. I grew up in the southwest where cholla and wild T's are everywhere. Since I'm getting a species native to arid Mexico I thought cholla would be a nice change from all the cork. But... uh... cork it is. :lol: Thank you for the offer, though!
 

Smotzer

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I only use wood like that which I collect outside in the woods far away from any residential/commercial area where pesticides might have been used. And I don’t do anything to it besides wash or dry scrub it off and air dry. Been doing this along time and despite all the crazy beliefs about “sanitizing”, pathogens, harmful stuff, I have never had a single issue with any naturally collected soil,leaves, wood etc with my T’s, and all my inverts for that matter too.
That being said Cork is great too! I also use to get this very hard, non-molding, “African root” that i love using!
 

fcat

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I've been having trouble finding a piece small enough to work, I already ordered a 'nano' sized one from an aquarist shop on Etsy and it was still too big. The perils of not being able to pick it out in person. That one piece I added the picture of is just the right size and shape for what I wanted, it wasn't until after I got it home that I had the presence of mind to wonder if there was a chemical treatment done to it.


No worries, I didn't take it any type of way.


Okay now that was a surprise. I grew up in the southwest where cholla and wild T's are everywhere. Since I'm getting a species native to arid Mexico I thought cholla would be a nice change from all the cork. But... uh... cork it is. :lol: Thank you for the offer, though!
Get some tools. Best investment I ever made was getting a boyfriend with a Dremel 🤣🤣🤣. I know I don't use the attachments correctly but the drill one works great as a saw through soft cork bark. I even use it to sand/grind down the leftover wood fibers on the inside of corkbark as it tends to mold. That's also what gives it it's rigidity/prevents me from breaking pieces by hand, sometimes that's all you have to do.

Then, sand down any rough edges with sand paper, not the Dremel.
 
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